Happy 2012 and a Little Provencal Sunshine

Happy New Year everyone! I hope your new year was fun and fantastic and I wish everyone nothing but the best in 2012. Here's to one more wonderful year!

Today is the first day in Chicago where I woke up to snow on the ground (surprisingly). It's pretty frigid out today, so naturally my mind is wandering to the south of France and late summer provençal sunshine. As the south of France never fails, I managed to find a dreamy château that I would like to share with you all today.

Built in the early 17th century, the Château de Moissac-Bellevue was a residence dedicated to relaxation and maintians that today. Oh how I'd love to vacation here one day, although I'd probably never leave once I got there. It's got an elegance and old world charm that blends so perfectly with the architecture of the building. So long story short, come day dream with me....

Doesn't it just look like a dream?

Until next time!
-Maggie

Photo Friday: A Little Chicago Love

Because I am posting this from my phone today, in today's photo of the day post I'm showing off my iPhone photography "skills". This is a collage of a day I spent meandering around downtown on a "sick day" from work. As much as I want to move put of this city one day, I will always have some Chicago love.

Vintage and Now: 1940s Ava Gardner Glam

Little known fact, Ava Gardner is one of my favorite classic Hollywood actresses (right up there with Katherine Hepburn). So when I saw this Barbara Tfank dress in the Spring collection, I immediately thought of that famous dress from The Killers. It just goes to show you how iconic looks with cycle back around. Basically, the whole post just reinforces my belief that you should hold on the classic pieces that you love no matter how out of style they get, because eventually they will be back in style in one form or another. Right? Right. Anyway, that's what I'm going to tell the roommate next time he tries to get me to throw away something I haven't worn in a year.

Anyway, I love 1940s fashion. That's pretty much all I have to say about that.

Until next time!
-Maggie

What I Wore Wednesday: New Year's Eve Edition

So this isn't exactly the outfit I want to wear on New Year's Eve. Today's outfit post is my back up plan. I ordered a dress to wear online, but, due to a mistaken shipment, I'm still waiting on it. I figured in the case that it doesn't fit or looks really bad on, I needed a back up. So what's more festive that sequin gold shorts?

I saw them. I loved them. I needed them. The sequin gold shorts were an impulse buy and I regret nothing! Even though I have yet to wear them out. I guess that just means I need to go out dancing more ;). 

 

 

Tank: Victoria Secret
Gold Sequin Shorts: Akira
Tights: David and Co
Grey Heels: H&M

Blazer and Oversized Clutch: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Local Boutique

This clutch was a Christmas gift from the roommate (read: boyfriend). It's actually a laptop case, but I'm going to use it as both because I think it looks cool as a clutch.

So there you have it, my plan B outfit. Curious what the dress I ordered looks like? I wrote about it earlier. It's the last dress in this blog post. If it makes it in on time I'll try to get pictures of that outfit up too.

New year's eve is this weekend, have you picked out your outfit yet?

Trend Spotting Tuesday: Printed Denim

In my ramblings around various stores and fashion sites on the internet, I've seen a trend that's been slowly growing for a little while now, but it seems like it will be in full swing in the Spring: Printed Denim! And thus, today's trend spotting post. 

 

1. Urban Outfitters $68

2. Nasty Gal $62
3. Asos $73
4. Mod Cloth $38

5. Asos $73

Who's loving it? This girl! Well, I have a tendancy to love all things that have something to do with prints of bright colors so this is right up my alley! I've actually been eyeballing those floral print Urban Outfitters ones for a while, but then I noticed that print jeans and pants were popping up all over. The UO ones are probably still my favorite so far, but Asos does put up some tough competition. And yes, the Mod Cloth ones are not denim, but I noticed that too late (and had already included them in the jpg so :P) and they're cute anyway.

What on earth would I do with printed denim, you ask? Lots! Colors, patterns and prints are still being mixed and matched for the Spring, but if you don't want to be that daring (or, like me, don't want to look like a Moroccan street market) there is nothing simpler than throwing on a pair of printed jeans, a plain tank or tee, and some boots. Throw on a colorful, chunky necklace and BAM! You instantly look stylish. How easy was that? Oh man, remind me to start using Polyvore more often in these examples.  Hopefully, you get the idea though. 

So what do you say? Printed pants: take 'em or leave 'em?

Christmas Gifts and a Dresser that Becomes a Table

After all the hustle and bustle, Christmas is over. I hope your holiday was wonderful, did you guys get anything awesome? I got a little something that I want to brag about. This year I got a Polaroid camera with film!

 

I was so excited! I've always wanted a Polaroid and when I finally got my hands on an old one, they discontinued the film. So now I actually own two old Polaroids, but that's ok. I have film! And that's what's most important. My wonderful gift-giving roommate wasn't aware I was already in possession of one when he got me this one.  So of course I tested it right away, but the film is still pretty expensive so I'm being kind of conservative with it. 

Yea, we came out kind of blue. Obviously I don't really know how to work it yet, but I plan on playing with it in the upcoming weeks, so we'll see! 

Anyway, enough about me. On to the good stuff. I found this amazing dresser design on FreshHome (go figure, they find the coolest stuff). Get this, the dresser comes apart to a table and two chairs! 

How, you ask? Well the table part is pretty easy to see, I think, but where do the chairs come in? 

 

Crazy right? The Ludovico Desk/Chairs/Storage is the ultimate small space solution! Anyone living in a tiny space (this girl) can appreciate the genius in Claudio Sibille's design. I've been going crazy trying to design whether it's more practical to get a small table and chairs in the tiny kitchen or more storage space. Both are badly needed considering our current and only table is the coffee table. Of course, even if this were for sale, there is no way my tiny bank account would allow it, but I can appreciate the design and day dream right? Those don't cost me nothin' (take that).

Maybe I just need to start thinking outside of the box. Do you/ did you live in a small space? How did you manage to cram in?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

A quick post to say Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Holidays! I hope you're all warm and cozy and enjoying this time of the year with people you love. And I wanted to thank you all for reading along with me, it means more to me than you know. (cheesy! I know, I know ;)

So Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you're having a great one!

 

Sweater: Tulle

Skirt: Asos
Shoes: Vintage

Yup, I had to sneak in an outfit of the day post, because why not right? This skirt has become my go-to holiday skirt and I really hope it hasn't been tainted because of that. Once something reminds me of holiday, I can't wear it any other time of the year. I guess we'll find out huh? ;)

Thanks again all!

Photo Friday: Red and Blue

Today's picture of the day if one I took over the summer when I became more interested in how the raspberries looked on the cutting board, than finishing my salad. I hope you like it!

What I Wore Wednesday - Museum Edition

This past weekend the roommate, our skinny blond friend, and I went to the Museum of Science and Industry! One of my favorite museums in the city. It had just snowed, but I still wanted to be cute and comfortable. I put on one of my favorite skirts and some sturdy boots. I think this outfit might look better with some daintier shoes, but I was trekking through slippery city streets and really wanted to not slip and fall.

It was a welcome break from stressing out about the holidays, which I am currently doing at full force. Just me? This outfit of the day post is coming in the middle of all of this so please excuse me if it seems rushed (it kind of is).

So without further ado, here are my outfit photos and a few snaps from our day out!

Skirt: Everly

Tank: Local Boutique

Cardigan Urban Outfitters
Boots: Wanted
Socks: Target

Necklace: Vintage (sweet steal from a friend!)

Belt: Urban Outfitters

Bag that's hiding off to the left: Vintage

That's all for today folks! Sorry the outfit of the day photos are kind of bad quality. The Museum doesn't have the best lighting for fashion shoots. I must get back to stressing out about the holidays!

Until next time!
-Maggie

Tuesday Trendspotting: Velvet

So last fall there was this pair of black velvet leggings that grew on me and when they went on sale for $10, I came super close to buying them. In the end, I decided that I would probably never wear them and that it would be silly of me to buy them. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! I was kicking myself for a while for not getting them, but never more so than now. With velvet coming back in full swing this season, I realize that I should always listen to my fashion instinct, no matter what. No matter what.

Well, no use dwelling. I've learned my lesson. Now I'm just going to obsess about velvet from far away until I can get my hands on something I love. Velvet is tricky because it can definitely look tacky or over-the-top really easily, so you have to play it right. I love the velvet shoes that are out there. That's one way to play with the trend without over-doing it. Shoes and cute little clutches are a super easy way to add a chic touch of velvet to your holiday outfit without having 90s flashbacks. I still haven't found that perfect piece that I would want to buy, but I do love the look of blue velvet and burgundy velvet.

Urban Outfitters does have this cute thing, but it's too tiny even for me. So for $40 I think I'm just going to hop by the fabric store and make my own. (Please hold me to that, I'm notorious for coming up with craft projects that never get realized).

Anyway, there are lots of other options out there right now. Some of my favorites:

1. via Pinterest

2. Sarah Klassen

3. The Street Fashion Style

4. Need Supply Co.

5. via Pinterest

6. Dorthy Perkins

7. Top Shop

Velvet is a great holiday season fabric because it's lush, rich, and soft - great for celebrating in the winter. Do you think it has staying power? Would you buy a velvet piece to wear outside of the holidays?

Clean Yet Rustic Simplicity in Interior Design

This morning when I checked my Google reader I was greeted by the most delightful design photography. What a great way to start the day (err...well maybe not if you're not into interior design). Of course I can always count on Desire to Inspire to find amazing interior designs, it is my go-to in fact. Anyway, these photos are from a farmhouse renovation shot by Paul Brissman, an amazing photographer, who I now intend to follow regularly.

I love everything about this farmhouse. It's rustic yet clean. I think it can sometimes be difficult to create this combination seamlessly. You "rustic" can sometimes look "shabby chic", which usually just looks cluttered to me (but good cluttered, I do enjoy my shabby chic style here and there). There is just somthing that sooths me about natural, exposed wood beams. I know, I'm a weirdo, but guess what? If I'm going to be living somewhere, I want it to be visualy soothing and this fits the bill for me.

Another win: large, open, sunny spaces.

This rustic sink is what I mean by rustic yet clean. It looks rough and worn around the edges, but I wouldn't be scared to lay my toothbrush on the counter.

  

  

 

  

All I can say is that I would have fantastic dreams in this bed, no doubt.

So you can very obviously see the kinds of things that make up my dream home. What kind of this designs make up yours?